Our consultants are not academicians.  We're not trying to advance the latest theories from a book.  Instead, every one of us has years of experience in the executive ranks with proven success in our own businesses and in helping our clients.

Leary Gates is founder and principal owner of Lumina where he advises some of the leading information and communications technology companies, including Sun Microsystems, Imation, American Management Systems, StorageTek and a variety of emerging technology companies.

Prior to founding Lumina in 1995, Gates held a number of technical and management positions with Cray Research, the supercomputer market leader. While there, he founded the CraySoft business unit and was responsible for all worldwide business unit activities including development, marketing, sales and administration. He also developed and deployed market entry and exit strategies for other Cray Research product and business segments.

At Lumina, Gates brings both business development and marketing expertise to help shape client business strategies to be more market driven. His primary emphasis is identifying buying behaviors and developing corporate strategies that increase business value and penetration in targeted market segments. Gates expertise also includes using corporate image, positioning and brand to create a competitive advantage.

In addition to Lumina, Gates founded SoftwareMinds, the online resource for business operations information tools for the software industry. He is the author of the three editions of Effective Software Marketing Practices, published by Culpepper & Associates and SoftwareMinds.

Gates was the host of the FastInit Executive Exchange, presenting online and offline conferences on high-technology marketing and has spoken at a variety of technology venues.

Leary Gates can be reached at 952-767-0077 x222.

Dan Metzger is an experienced sales and marketing executive with over 30 years in information technology.

At Lumina, Metzger brings his vast experience and knowledge to clients who are looking to reshape their businesses, examine their marketing and sales strategies, develop solid whole product solutions and create
high-yield "Go-to-Market" plans.

Prior to joining Lumina Consulting Group, Metzger was president of Nygard Dimensions, a strategic branding and marketing communications firm, where he was responsible for business development and operations. Elsewhere as a frontline and operating executive, Metzger has been responsible for business and market strategy development. Most notably, Metzger was the executive vice president of marketing for Lawson Software where he directed the rapid growth of Lawson's market prior to its IPO.

Metzger has also held executive positions with nQuire Software, Parametric Technology, auxilium and IBM. While with these companies, he built and managed sales and marketing operations, developed strategic channel alliances, developed corporate and product positioning as well as crafted and executed "Go-to Market" strategies. Metzger was also instrumental in helping these companies achieve their market growth objectives and exit strategies.

Metzger has been on the business partner advisory boards of IBM, HP, and Microsoft and he presently serves on the Board of Directors of three software companies: Sopheon, public-traded and based in the U.K., OppSource and Winrep Software, both based in Minneapolis, MN.

Dan Metzger can be reached at 952-767-0077 x225.

Susan Metzger is a seasoned sales executive with over 19 years of sales experience in the software and consulting services industries. 

Prior to joining Lumina Consulting Group Metzger was an independent recruiter with AllianceNet, Inc., a recruiting agency focused on filling sales executive and sales management positions in software organizations.  Metzger was responsible for placing sales executives, pre and post sales consultants in software and consulting services organizations.

Metzger has also had very successful sales careers at Pragmatek Consulting Group, Lawson Software and Business MicroVar.  Her experience and understanding of complex solution sales in the high tech industry gives her a unique advantage in understanding and defining the open position(s), identifying the most qualified candidates, facilitating the hiring process and placing the right candidate for the open position. 

At Lumina Consulting Group Metzger focuses on filling open executive, sales and marketing management, sales, pre and post sales, marcomm, product marketing, and product management positions on a permanent or interim basis.

Susan Metzger can be reached at 952-767-0077 x229.

Steve Conway is a twenty year IT industry veteran who specializes in strategic market analysis, positioning, public and analyst relations.  Conway has provided strategic guidance for industry leaders IDC, Sun Microsystems, Cray Research, Silicon Graphics, Cable & Wireless and America Online.  Conway has served as an executive for Cray Inc, CompuServe Corporation, Cray Research, Shandwick and United Health Care.

Conway has been a member of the national public relations committees of the American Electronics Association (AEA) and the Computer Systems Policy Project, and a delegate for the Computerworld Smithsonian Awards. He serves on the advisory boards of Twin Cities high-tech firms. A former Senior Fulbright Fellow, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in German literature from Columbia University, New York, and a master’s in comparative literature from Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.

Steve Conway can be reached at 952-767-0077 x223.

Kirsten Chapman is a business development and marketing veteran with more 20 years’ experience in the information technology industry.

Chapman’s sales experience with IBM, Honeywell Information Systems and Cap Gemini in the 1980s and publishing and turnaround consulting in the late 1980s gives Chapman a unique perspective on sales and market development issues. In 1988, she began consulting on business and go-to-market strategies and tactics specifically for IT companies.

In 1995, Chapman formalized her consulting practice and founded KC Associates, which provides information and communications technology companies with a single source for market development planning, product launches, channel programs, customer retention strategies and marketing outsourcing (including turnaround assistance), as well as a broad-range of competitively priced marketing communications services. Chapman also provides business and market strategy consulting in association with Lumina Consulting Group and is co-founder and CEO of SoftwareMinds, a publishing venture that provides software industry benchmark data and related content.

Chapman has served as an adjunct professor and guest lecturer (graduate and undergraduate levels) at the Universities of Minnesota and St. Thomas, specializing in business strategy and policy as well as organizational behavior. She has been an invited speaker on topics that include market development strategies, product launches and positioning for Software Magazine, Minnesota Software Association, Frontline Forum, Minnesota High Tech Association and for Microsoft’s Channel Partner Summit.

Chapman has a master’s degree in strategic management from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Denver.

Kirsten Chapman can be reached at 952-767-0077 x230.